Pirate's+Ball

=Pirate's Ball= Sean Harkey

Purpose
What instructional or motivational purpose does this activity serve? The purpose of the activity is to create a fun and exhilarating environment for strangers. The game is a large ice breaker that involves high energy, dancing, role playing, and elimination.

Time Required
How many minutes do you estimate it will take? 1 game can take anywhere from 5-10 minutes to complete.

Number of Participants
The larger the better. Ideally there should be about 40 participants.

Supplies Needed
A list of commands and demonstrations pictures or graphics of each action.

Preparation
The facilitator only needs about 10 minutes to practice the commands, so that they can announce them to a large group and have the group practice. There should be at least 8 people to demonstrate the actions.

Introduction
Facilitator = Captain Arg maties! I said ARGHHH MATIES. Repeat after me! And watch me fellow billdrats!

Facilitators will demonstrate the following actions:

Swab the decks: Each individual performs a sweeping/dancing action Load the cannons: One individual will get on their knees and pretend to load a cannon while the other person pretends to light and fire the cannon. Cabin fever: Individuals must find a partner and dance with them ballroom style and also like a crazy idiot. Land ho: Individuals must find a group of three and row an imaginary boat together. Booty pose: Individuals must find a group of five and pose like a pirate. Cracken: Individuals must find a group of 8, each put their hand in the middle of a circle and wave their other hand on the outside of the circle like an octopus.

//On a side note: Individuals not acting like pirates will be eliminated and also ridiculed by the entire group at the facilitator's discretion.//

Process
After demonstrating all the actions that the individuals in the group must perform. The facilitators and the participants will all play together. The captain (facilitator) will call actions in a random order to eliminate individuals one by one. Facilitator will use commands that require larger amounts of people in order to begin narrowing down the numbers (EX: Cracken -> Booty pose -> Cabin fever...etc.)

Facilitators will act as a judges to make sure that individuals are performing the right action. If they fail to perform the action promptly they are eliminated. If they have been the victim of a mathematic impossibility (EX: Cracken and 17 people: 2 groups of 8 and 1 left out) then they are eliminated.

The activity ends when there is one person left. If there are 2 people left and they are just "too good" at the commands. THEY BOTH WIN! :)

Debrief
Individuals will break up into groups of 5 and talk to each other. They will tell each other what their favorite action was. Say their name, age, and position/major (depending on the event) And a fun fact about themselves.

Credits
I participated in a similar activity called "Ships Ahoy" which was similar in design and nautical theme. I decided to make it more of a pirate theme to encourage fun role playing. The game is also closely modeled to "Simon Says," and "Musical Chairs" just for pirates...err...people.